Much of the chatter overnight centred on the fact NZ On Air provides funding for the new reality TV show, which features the seemingly cruisy, laidback lifestyles of young and restless Maori, including some with Rotorua and Kawerau links, living on the GoldCoast.
#thegc was the second top trending topic worldwide on Twitter last night. That's huge for a little ol half-hour show screening in New Zealand. Gotta love it when so many people are tweeting "WTF is the GC?".
John Drinnan in the NZ Herald has pointed out that NZ On Air has given $420,000 towards the making of the show.
One outraged blogger who wrote to NZ On Air when he read about the upcoming show, received this as part of a response:
"We were pleased to support a prime time series that intends to provide stories of successful Maori who are proud of their culture and are making a good life for themselves ...
"As you may know our legislation does not permit us to be involved in editorial matters."
The blogger asks: "why is 'the market' not funding a format - a reality show - that is clearly of a commercial nature? Why is taxpayers money being used on such a venture?"
And perhaps most telling, already as of 6am, a Facebook group called Cancel 'The GC' TV Show has more than 2000 members. Still a way to go to reach the 8600 likes The GC's Facebook page has, but it's only been a few hours since screening.
So, is all the hating fair? Many of those criticising the show probably aren't its target market, and you have to wonder if the show will improve and seem more natural once its subjects get used to the cameras.
But the questions about funding are sure to stir up a hornets' nest and prompt a national debate on taxpayer-funded broadcasting decisions.
So what do you think? Should the show receive taxpayers' money? What do you think of the show as a portrayal of young Maori? Positive or negative? Has the response been blown out of proportion?
